2008 – America's Voicehttp://americasvoice.org
Immigration ReformFri, 09 Dec 2016 18:56:22 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1Hope for the Holidayshttp://americasvoice.org/blog/hope_for_the_holidays/
http://americasvoice.org/blog/hope_for_the_holidays/#respondSat, 27 Dec 2008 02:45:16 +0000http://localhost:8888/AV_RD/website/?p=646For many, hope is the word this holiday. On the topic of immigration reform, the New York Times chimes in: It's way too early to tell whether the United States under President-elect Barack Obama will restore realism, sanity and lawfulness to its immigration system. But it's never too early to hope, and the stars seem to be lining up, at least among his cabinet nominees.On that note, happy and hopeful holidays to all!

It’s way too early to tell whether the United States
under President-elect Barack Obama will restore realism, sanity and lawfulness
to its immigration system. But it’s never too early to hope, and the stars seem
to be lining up, at least among his cabinet nominees.

The Center for Community Change has a new video
out, asking what communities are hoping for in the new year. Much of the hope
hinges on a call for real immigration reform, not raids:

The San Diego Press (La Prensa San Diego) is running an opinion piece
entitled, “A New Era of Hope for Comprehensive Immigration Reform,” by Ali
Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. The piece details the
many costly failures of Bush-era immigration policy:

Three years ago at this time of year, the
Republican-controlled House had just passed H.R. 4437, a bill that would have
amounted to the most restrictive immigration legislation in generations and
which sparked huge demonstrations nationwide. Two years ago, the first in the
new era of workplace raids unfolded at jobsites just in time for the holiday
season. This year has seen more raids, more separation of families, continued
bureaucratic processing delays, and a legal immigration system unresponsive to the
reality facing families, employers, and individuals.

But it, too, strikes a chord of aggressive hope at the end:

President-elect Obama’s cabinet nominations reflect
a desire to make significant progress on immigration reform. Nominating people
like […] Gov.
Janet Napolitano (Secretary of Homeland Security), Gov. Bill Richardson (Secretary of
Commerce), […] Rep.
Hilda Solis
(Secretary of Labor), indicates he and his Administration are serious about
working with Congress to deliver comprehensive immigration reform for the
American people.

…2008 also saw an election where immigrant and
Latino voters turned out to vote for change in record numbers. The tired
politics of immigrant bashing once again failed to deliver for firebrand politicians.

…Now it is up to people of conscience to hold our
elected representatives accountable and demand immigration reform that benefits
the American people, America’s economic and homeland security, and moves us
towards a new era of recognizing that immigration is not a source of weakness
for America, it is a sign of our strength.

]]>http://americasvoice.org/blog/hope_for_the_holidays/feed/0CNN: Shedding Light on"Toughest Sheriff” Joe Arpaiohttp://americasvoice.org/blog/cnn_shedding_light_ontoughest_sheriff_joe_arpaio/
http://americasvoice.org/blog/cnn_shedding_light_ontoughest_sheriff_joe_arpaio/#respondSat, 27 Dec 2008 01:13:46 +0000http://localhost:8888/AV_RD/website/?p=649Arpaio's critics aren't amused. They say they fear the show will give the controversial sheriff positive publicity, ignoring what they call a darker side to his 16-year tenure as top lawman in the county that includes Phoenix. "It's going to celebrate a sheriff that's frankly scaring this community, a sheriff that has seen violent crime increase significantly in his county, a sheriff that is racially profiling the Latino community, and I doubt that the show is going to reflect that," said Paco Fabian, spokesman for the immigrant-rights group America's Voice.

They say they fear the show will give the controversial sheriff positive publicity, ignoring what they call a darker side to his 16-year tenure as top lawman in the county that includes Phoenix.

“It’s going to celebrate a sheriff that’s frankly scaring this community, a sheriff that has seen violent crime increase significantly in his county, a sheriff that is racially profiling the Latino community, and I doubt that the show is going to reflect that,” said Paco Fabian, spokesman for the immigrant-rights group America’s Voice.

CNN continued:

In a statement on the group’s Web site, Fabian calls Arpaio a “modern day Bull Connor,” comparing him to the public safety commissioner in 1960s Birmingham, Alabama, whose use of attack dogs and firehoses on civil rights demonstrators made him a symbol of racial intolerance. […]

And then, of course, there’s the pink underwear.

The truth is, Sheriff Joe makes his name whatever way he can, whether dressing inmates in pink underwear or forcing them to eat rotten bologna sandwiches. Many Arizona leaders can’t stand his costly publicity stunts. According to CNN:

Earlier this year, the mayor of Phoenix wrote a letter to the U.S. attorney general’s office, asking the FBI and the U.S. Justice Department’s civil rights division to investigate Arpaio’s aggressive illegal immigration crackdowns. Mayor Phil Brown wrote that Arpaio’s sweeps show “a pattern and practice of conduct that includes discriminatory harassment, improper stops, searches and arrests.”

The letter came after Arpaio, who had already been the target of hundreds of lawsuits, launched a series of what he calls crime-suppression patrols in largely Latino neighborhoods. Critics say the patrols use racial profiling to unfairly target Hispanic drivers and pedestrians…”

It’s high time the media shed light on the true “Toughest Sheriff” Joe Arpaio and his ugly methods.

If you haven’t already, please sign the petition calling for an investigation of Joe’s tactics.

]]>http://americasvoice.org/blog/cnn_shedding_light_ontoughest_sheriff_joe_arpaio/feed/0‘Toughest Sheriff’ takes act to small screenhttp://americasvoice.org/news_clips/toughest_sheriff_takes_act_to_small_screen/
http://americasvoice.org/news_clips/toughest_sheriff_takes_act_to_small_screen/#respondFri, 26 Dec 2008 07:09:58 +0000http://localhost:8888/AV_RD/website/?p=648The post ‘Toughest Sheriff’ takes act to small screen appeared first on America's Voice.
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]]>http://americasvoice.org/news_clips/toughest_sheriff_takes_act_to_small_screen/feed/0Getting Immigration Righthttp://americasvoice.org/news_clips/getting_immigration_right/
http://americasvoice.org/news_clips/getting_immigration_right/#respondFri, 26 Dec 2008 07:06:14 +0000http://localhost:8888/AV_RD/website/?p=647The post Getting Immigration Right appeared first on America's Voice.
]]>The post Getting Immigration Right appeared first on America's Voice.
]]>http://americasvoice.org/news_clips/getting_immigration_right/feed/0Separating Fantasy from Realityhttp://americasvoice.org/blog/separating_fantasy_from_reality/
http://americasvoice.org/blog/separating_fantasy_from_reality/#respondMon, 22 Dec 2008 19:37:28 +0000http://localhost:8888/AV_RD/website/?p=645What’s more absurd than not blaming the GOP for killing immigration reform? Putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop, as it were: giving employers free reign to treat their workers as they will. Immigration reform that’s got a chance must be good for US workers, immigrant workers, and the economy. We needn’t choose between worker protections and real immigration reform, but we do need to separate fantasy from reality.

Just look at what happened recently when the Bush administration — which tried to get comprehensive immigration reform through Congress but failed in part because of labor’s opposition to guest workers — tried to make it easier for one group of employers to use foreign workers.

The vote was a stinging setback for Bush, who advocated the bill as an imperfect but necessary fix of current immigration practices in which many illegal immigrants use forged documents or lapsed visas to live and work in the United States.

Victory for GOP conservatives

It was a victory for Republican conservatives who strongly criticized the bill’s provisions that would have established pathways to lawful status for many of the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants. They were aided by talk radio and TV hosts who repeatedly attacked the bill and urged listeners to flood Congress with calls, faxes and e-mails.

Now that we’ve got that straight, Navarette continues:

The bureaucratic change, the most significant in 20 years to the nation’s H-2A visa program, was met with incredible hostility from organized labor and its friends in the Democratic Party. […]

Farmers had typically bypassed the program because — with its bureaucratic delays, red tape and requirement that they pay foreign workers more than minimum wage — they considered the option to be more trouble than it is worth.

Apparently, farmers go around the H-2A program now in order to pay their workers less for back-breaking work.

What’s more absurd than not blaming the GOP for killing immigration reform? Putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop, as it were: giving employers free reign to treat their workers as they will.

Immigration reform that’s got a chance must be good for US workers, immigrant workers, and the economy. We needn’t choose between worker protections and real immigration reform, but we do need to separate fantasy from reality.

]]>http://americasvoice.org/blog/separating_fantasy_from_reality/feed/0LaHood: New Transportation Secretary, Strong Republican Voice on Immigrationhttp://americasvoice.org/blog/lahood_new_transportation_secretary_strong_bipartisan_voice_on_immigration/
http://americasvoice.org/blog/lahood_new_transportation_secretary_strong_bipartisan_voice_on_immigration/#respondFri, 19 Dec 2008 19:49:26 +0000http://localhost:8888/AV_RD/website/?p=644Congressman Ray LaHood (R-IL) is the grandson of Lebanese immigrants and has been a co-sponsor of several immigration reform measures. Originally set to retire after his seventh term representing Illinois' 18th District, Ray LaHood has a firm history of bipartisanship. The Congressman co-sponsored comprehensive immigration reform legislation, and his pick is just another appointment that bodes well for getting a real reform passed in the new administration.

]]>Congressman Ray LaHood (R-IL), who is the President-Elect’s pick for Secretary of Transportation, is the grandson of Lebanese immigrants and has been a co-sponsor of several immigration reform measures. Though he was set to retire after his seventh term representing Illinois’ 18th District, it’s clear that Ray LaHood’s firm history of bipartisanship will be an addition to the incoming administration.

According to a statement put out by the Arab American Institute yesterday:

With his knowledge of Congress and his fair-handed demeanor, LaHood has often chaired the House of Representatives on contentious issues. […] Arab Americans are proud of Ray LaHood’s service to our country. He is a measured and thoughtful voice on the Hill, someone who has never been afraid to reach across the aisle to find common ground.

The Congressman co-sponsored recent legislation that would have enacted comprehensive immigration reform, and his pick is just another appointment that bodes well for getting a real reform passed in the new administration.

]]>http://americasvoice.org/blog/lahood_new_transportation_secretary_strong_bipartisan_voice_on_immigration/feed/0A Sweet Goodbye to Goodehttp://americasvoice.org/blog/a_sweet_goodbye_to_goode/
http://americasvoice.org/blog/a_sweet_goodbye_to_goode/#respondFri, 19 Dec 2008 17:56:13 +0000http://localhost:8888/AV_RD/website/?p=643He has long railed against the Constitution, which holds that all babies born in America are U.S. citizens. Borrowing a line from the Minutemen’s playbook, he calls these children “anchor babies,” not Americans, and seeks to get their citizenship�along with the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution�revoked. But trying to anchor an election in bashing undocumented immigrants? That’s one boat that didn’t float this election.

]]>To be fair, he gave it a good run. It was so close to call that he got a recount. In the end, challenger Tom Perriello beat Virgil Goode by 727 votes, though, and it’s time for us to say good-bye.

Well, we can’t say we’ll miss him.

During the 2008 election, Immigration08.com tracked 22 competitive races where immigration was shaping up to be a major issue. While the Virginia congressional race that pitted Tom Perriello (D-VA) against Virgil Goode (R-VA), didn’t make the cut at that time, it ended up being one of themost competitive races this cycle.

And one of the ugliest, in terms of anti-immigrant rhetoric. Just watch this gem from the campaign trail:

This came as little surprise, as Goodehad been raising eyebrows for some time. As the Associated Press reported:

Goode has stirred controversy in recent years for his strong anti-immigration stances, including a 2006 letter he wrote to constituents criticizing a decision by Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota to use the Quran when he was sworn in. Goode warned that unless immigration was tightened, “many more Muslims will be elected.”

Back when pundits were searching fora scapegoat to blame for this whole financial mess, Virgil Goode was sure he’d found the answer: undocumented immigrants.

In a Sept. 28th story in the Martinsville Bulletin, Goode said that undocumented immigrants who can’tpay back loans are the root cause of the nation’s financial problems.

With that, he joined the lonelychorus of restrictionist-turned-“conservative pundit” Mark Krikorian and rightwing loudmouth Michelle Malkin, who’ve been blaming immigrants, and Latinos in general, for the financial crisis. Because clearly it had nothing to do with CEOs and federal regulators.

“It’s outrageous that while the working families of Southside and Central Virginia are watching their investments plummet and their jobs disappear, Congressman Goode is trying to blame illegal immigrants for a problem he helped create. The truth is that the crisis has been caused by the pervasive lobbying of Congress by Wall Street looking to make a quick buck. If Rep. Goode was more focused on helping the people of the 5th District, and less on Wall Street lobbyists, he wouldn’t have voted against cracking down on predatory lenders and protecting working families here in Virginia.”

Rep. Goode’s immigration gaffe inSeptember didn’t come as much of a surprise. He had already built a firmrecord of trying to pin problems on undocumented immigrants — and usinginflammatory language in the process. He has long railed against the Constitution, which holds that all babies born in America are U.S.citizens. Borrowing a line from the Minutemen’s playbook, he calls thesechildren “anchor babies,” not Americans, and seeks to get their citizenship-alongwith the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution-revoked.

But trying to anchor an election inbashing undocumented immigrants? That’s one boat that didn’t float thiselection.

For immigrant advocates, the long, Goode goodbye this election was particularly sweet.

]]>http://americasvoice.org/blog/a_sweet_goodbye_to_goode/feed/0Rep. Solis’ Appointment: Another Good Sign for Workers and Immigration Reformhttp://americasvoice.org/blog/rep_solis_appointment_another_good_sign_for_workers_and_immigration_reform/
http://americasvoice.org/blog/rep_solis_appointment_another_good_sign_for_workers_and_immigration_reform/#respondThu, 18 Dec 2008 20:31:31 +0000http://localhost:8888/AV_RD/website/?p=642Today's Associated Press announcement that Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA) is the President-elect's pick to head the Department of Labor is an exciting development for all workers in our country. Not only has Solis been a long-time labor advocate, she has stood firm for immigration policy that makes our nation stronger. She has also been a leader on the issue of immigrant detentions and the ill-conceived Bush administration raids.

]]>Today’s Associated Press announcement that Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA) is the President-elect’s pick to head the Department of Labor is an exciting development for all workers in our country. Not only has Solis been a long-time labor advocate, she has stood firm for immigration policy that makes our nation stronger. She has also been a leader on the issue of immigrant detentions and the ill-conceived Bush administration raids.

Rep. Hilda Solis has been a key leader for immigrants, workers, and comprehensive immigration reform throughout her career and we eagerly welcome the good news that she has been selected as the next Secretary of Labor. Joining Gov. Janet Napolitano at the Department of Homeland Security, Sen. Hillary Clinton at the State Department, Gov. Bill Richardson at the Department of Commerce, and other key nominees, Rep. Solis is joining a strong team that can work with Congress on behalf of the President to deliver real reform for the American people on the issue of immigration.

In this time of economic insecurity, it is more important than ever that we have stability in our labor market and the conditions by which workers – immigrant and native-born alike – can stand together to win better wages and better jobs. Restoring the rule of law to our immigration system through comprehensive immigration reform is a key ingredient in defending and extending workers’ rights.

In nominating a leader as skilled and dedicated as Rep. Solis to this important office, President-elect Obama is sending the clear signal that American workers, regardless of their country of birth, are a valued part of America’s future and a top priority for his Administration.

This is just one more sign that the new administration is taking immigration reform and the rights of all workers seriously.

Washington, DC – Evidence is mounting that comprehensive immigration reform will be a priority in 2009. President-Elect Obama made a campaign promise to move comprehensive reform in his first year, and already established a working group on immigration during the transition period. Immigrant and Latino voters turned out in record numbers in November, voted for Democrats over Republicans in part because of the immigration issue, and have high expectations for the incoming Congress and Administration. Hard-line candidates for the House and Senate lost multiple contests to comprehensive reformers. And recent comments by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, as well as the nominations of Governor Janet Napolitano (D-AZ) to head Obama’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) to lead the Commerce Department, are also fueling anticipation about the prospects of enacting immigration reform in the next Congress.

On Thursday, December 18, U.S. Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) joined Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice, Simon Rosenberg, President and Founder of NDN, and pollster David Mermin, partner of Lake Research Partners, to discuss the chances for enacting comprehensive immigration reform in 2009 and beyond.

]]>http://americasvoice.org/press_releases/congressman_luis_gutierrez_analysts_discuss_chances_for_reform_in_2009/feed/0Court Delays Prevented Thousands of Potential New Citizens from Votinghttp://americasvoice.org/blog/court_delays_prevented_thousands_of_potential_new_citizens_from_voting/
http://americasvoice.org/blog/court_delays_prevented_thousands_of_potential_new_citizens_from_voting/#respondThu, 18 Dec 2008 16:00:42 +0000http://localhost:8888/AV_RD/website/?p=639As the Washington Post reported yesterday, citizenship delays likely prohibited thousands of immigrants from voting in this historic election. Immigrants already have to struggle with enough obstacles in the citizenship process: high fees, long waits, tougher tests among them. Now it turns out they have to deal with federal courts that won't swear them in on a timely basis. It's time for the courts to make naturalization a real priority.

As the Washington Post reported yesterday, citizenship delays likely prohibited thousands of immigrants from voting in this historic election. According to the Post:

In one of the nation’s busiest courts, a judge’s delay caused nearly 2,000 people to not receive the oath in time to register for November’s general election, USCIS ombudsman Michael Dougherty said in a 13-page report released yesterday.

The finding adds a new twist to long-standing complaints that applicants for citizenship face long waits, poor service and different treatment depending on which immigration office handles their paperwork.

He found that in one of four cities where judges have exclusive authority to call the hearings, court officials reported that they weren’t given enough time to conduct the oaths in the days preceding the election. (Dougherty wouldn’t say which city, but Chicago is one of the four.) The result? Nearly 2,000 new citizens were denied the right to vote.

Immigrants already have to struggle with enough obstacles in the citizenship process, including high fees, long waits, and tougher tests. Now it turns out they have to deal with federal courts that won’t swear them in on a timely basis.

It’s particularly outrageous that thousands of people–who took all the appropriate steps to become citizens so they could vote in this historic election–were denied access to this cornerstone of our democracy. It’s time for the courts to make naturalization a real priority.